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UCM Meeting Reminder
Next meeting will be on Wednesday 1st February at 7:45pm in the Upper Room.
We will welcome a speaker this evening.
Alter Servers and IMPACT
Group
Next meeting will be Friday 3rd February 2012 from 6:30pm to
8:00pm in the Upper Room. All welcome!
'Can you spend one hour with me?' Every Friday evening
in the Convent Chapel there is Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and
Rosary from 8:00pm to 9:00pm. Why not come and join us in prayer.

Please support our Bookshop!
After Mass pop in and see the new available stock; All are welcome!
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Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Need time for silence and peace to pray? We have a special time
on Saturday mornings at 11:00am to 11:45am. For prayer before
the Blessed Sacrament. Come along for a few minutes of prayer.
Crib Offerings
Thank you for the generous offerings made at the Crib over
Christmas. Your offerings will be sent to the Cabrini Children's
Society.
The Queen's Diamond Jubilee
Churches Together and Friends of Beulieu Heights will be
planting 60 saplings in Beulieu Heights on Saturday 4th February
from 10:30am to 3:00pm. Bring welly boots / gloves and give a
hand. Please put your name in the Porch. Refreshments provided.
Churches Together in Upper Norwood
The Annual Forum Meeting will be held at All Saints Church,
South Norwood Hill on Sunday 22nd January at 4:30pm. Followed by
a service of prayer for Christian Unity. Please go along and
meet your neighbours from the local Churches.
Do something special this Lent!
Come to the Life in the Spirit Seminars at Sydenham. "A way of
experiencing a strong sense of prayer and community and the
power of the Holy Spirit" says Bishop Lynch ss.cc. On Wednesday
15th February to 28th March. Starting at 8:00pm in the Parish
Hall. Mass in the Church at 7:30pm (optional). Light of Christ
Prayer Gp. Parish Hall, Our Lady and St. Philip Neri, 208
Sydenham Road, SE26 SSE. Telephone number available from the
Parish Office.
Mission as Service
A presentation by Bishop John Sherrington for young adults aged
18 - 38 years, starting at 7:00pm on Friday 27th January in the
Hinsley Room next to Westminster Cathedral. For more information
visit the events page of
www.free2become.org
or call. Number available from the Parish Office.
Marriage and Family Life - Familiaris Consortio - 11th February
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Pope John Paul II's
landmark document on the role of the Christian family. All are
invited to Amigo Hall, next door to St. George's Cathedral from
1:30pm to 5:00pm. Anyone with an interest in couples and
families are welcome. Admission is free, but booking is
essential. For details email
marriagese@tiscali.co.uk or phone (Number available from the
Parish Office).
Justice and Peace Group
Next meeting is on Monday 23rd January at 7:30pm in the Crying
Chapel. All are welcome!

Confirmation Programme
Meeting with candidates at 6:30pm on Tuesday 31st January in the
Upper Room. The subject will be "Can someone help?"
Click here for more information
regarding the Sacrament.
First Holy Communion
Meeting for children and parents on Saturday 4th February
between 9:30am and 10:30am in the Upper Room. Focus for this
session will be "God helps me make it right".
Celebration Mass Sunday 5th
February at 9:30am.
Parents and children are expected to attend.
Click here for more information
regarding the Sacrament.
A.B.C (About Becoming Catholics) Group.
Next meeting will be on Monday 23rd January from 7:45pm to
9:00pm. (Tea and coffee from 7:30pm). Please be prompt. Please note that you
must only attend if you have already seen Canon Michael, and are
in the group.
Please pray for all those who have recently started in the
A.B.C. Group and all those who are supporting them.
Click here for more details regarding
the Sacrament.
Next Baptism Meeting
On Saturday 11th February at 10:00am in the Crying Chapel.
(Entrance through brown door near steps).
For parents of babies who wish to have them baptised. Parents of
older children should contact Canon Michael through the Parish
Office. At this meeting the meaning of the Sacrament is
explained and the responsibilities of parents and godparents.
Parents should be attending Mass and live within the area of
Upper Norwood. Please note that either parent can attend, or
arrangements should be made to have babies looked after, so as
to give their full attention to the meeting.
Click here for more details regarding the
Sacrament.
Are we showing respect to the Holy Eucharist?
We are encouraged to receive Holy Communion under both kinds; the
Sacred Host and from the Chalice. We should always approach the
Eucharist with reverence and utmost care. We should always put
the host straight into our mouths, and never walk away with it
in our hand. The chalice should be taken carefully with both
hands, and given back slowly to the Eucharistic minister. Please
if you have a cold do not take from the chalice. It is the
instruction of the Bishops that people do not dip the host into
the Chalice. Parents are reminded to ensure that children who
have not made their Holy Communion cross their arms over their
chest as a sign for a blessing. Likewise, those who are not
members of the Catholic Church are welcome to have a blessing.
Before and after Mass remember that Jesus is present in the
Tabernacle. Make this a time to talk to Him. Please refrain from
conversations in Church so as to make our Church a house of
prayer. Talk to each other in the Porch or have a coffee after
Mass. When we enter or leave Church acknowledge the real
presence of Jesus, by bending your knee as a sign that He is
with us in the Tabernacle, and that He is to be loved and adored
above everything in our lives.
On Saturday mornings we have a special time of Eucharistic
adoration from 11:00am to 11:45am. Feel welcome to come and
spend some moments in prayer.

Wheat Allergy and The Eucharist
If you suffer from an allergy to wheat and require to receive
Holy Communion in the form of gluten-free hosts, please let the
Priest or Sacristan know BEFORE the Mass has started, so as
provision can be made for you.
Franciscan Fraternity Meeting - Inspired by St. Francis of
Assisi?
You are invited to the Fraternity monthly meeting of the Secular
Franciscan Order on Sunday 22nd January between 2:30pm to 4:30pm
in the St. Mary's parish Room, Wellesley Road, Croydon.
Everybody is welcome - just come!
Retreat weekend for young adults (20's and 30's)
Theme will be "Lord, let my prayer rise before you". Dates will
be from Friday 10th February to Sunday 12th February. Location
is Salford. Cost: Any donation welcome. The weekend will provide
opportunity for prayer, reflection and discussion with other
young catholic adults. Contact Sister Mary Anne fcj. Contact
details through the Parish Office.
Anna Chapman Sings!
A recital featuring a wonderful selection of operatic
arias to be held in St. Barnabas Chapel, Croydon University
Hospital. On Sunday 12th February at 3:00pm. No charge, but
reserving a place is advised. Telephone number available from
the Parish Office. Free parking also available.
The Gospel of Mark
Brian Purfield Six week course Mondays from 9th January to 13th
February from 11:00am to 1:00pm. At Mount Street W1K 3AH. Go to
www.mountstreet.info for more details. Telephone number
available from the parish Office.
An overview of mark's Gospel - the Gospel of the Sunday Cycle of
Lectionary Readings this year - pointing out the meaning of the
Gospel in it's original context and offering leads to how this
Gospel can connect with Christian life today. Repeated
Wednesdays from 11th January to 15th February from 7:00pm to
8:30pm.
Ambo/Lectern
We have now in place the prototype of the new Ambo / Lectern,
this is a wooden version to give an idea of scale and practical
use. The final Ambo/Lectern will be made of marble to match the
tabernacle, font and alter. Comments on improvements or design
would be welcome; especially from readers. Please email Canon
Michael, so as alterations can be made, if possible.
Does your child attend Children's Liturgy at 9:30am or 11:00am
Mass?
If so, perhaps you would like to join the Children's Liturgy
Team in the new term starting in September? It only takes about
20 minutes of your time; maybe once or twice a month. (less if
we can arrange more teams). Why not speak to a member of the
team to find out what is involved, or come and sit in on one of
the sessions and see how easy it is. We would welcome help from
dads, mums, older brothers / sisters and grandparents.
These sessions enable children up to the age of 7/8 (who have
not made their First Holy Communion) to access the Liturgy of
the Word. Because of child protection issues each member must be
CRB checked. Canon Michael arranges the completion of the forms
and will contact helpers with a date. There must be three (3)
named adults leading each session, and at the moment we are
struggling to have three (3) members at any one time, this
sometime leads to cancelled sessions which is unfair on the
children who attend.
The team really do need more volunteers to come and join as it
would be sad for our Church, if Children's Liturgy had to stop
because of lack of help. So why not think about it over the
Summer Holidays (or call us now), and if you are interested
please do come along in September, or speak to any member of the
team. There are contact details at the back of the Church on the
notice board.
New Stock in Church Bookshop
The Southwark Catholic Directories are now available in the book
shop. Cost £3.00.
Support our shop where you can. Thank You.
Virgo Fidelis Preparatory School Open Day Wednesday 1st February
from 9:30am to 3:00pm.
An independent Catholic School for boys and girls aged from 3 to
11 years of age. All faiths welcome. Call 020 8653 2169 or email
office@vfps.org.
A Reminder
Are you or a relation or friend going into hospital? Make sure
you register your details on admission that you state you are a
Roman Catholic, and that you would like a priest in an
emergency. This information should be passed to the Roman
Catholic Chaplain. This will ensure that you are visited whilst
in hospital. All emergencies are dealt with by the hospital
Chaplain.
Christian Mothers Association
Meeting every 2nd Sunday of the month between 1:00pm and
3:00pm in the Upper Room.

Hymn Books
It's easy to put a hymn book under your arm and forget to
leave it in Church! If you find that you have one at home,
please return it to Church, as we are getting very short of
them. Just leave it in the bookshelf in the Porch. Many thanks.
Parking on Central Hill
Please show consideration to our neighbours when parking.
Do not park across driveways or entrances and do not park in the
disabled bays unless you have a badge. Please use the Church car
park off Hermitage Road (or you could be green and leave the car
at home). Careless parking can cause serious accidents.
Gift Aid Scheme / Standing Orders Contributions
Do you contribute through a standing order with your bank to
support our Parish? If so, have you disclosed this under under
Gift Aid? This will increase the value of your donation by
signing a Gift Aid Declaration. Please contact Claire Line or
Canon Michael.
CRB Application
It is a legal requirement for anybody working with children or
vulnerable adults to have a CRB check completed. Many volunteers
in the Parish have already completed their applications and have
their forms. Anybody who has not completed an application for
their voluntary role should contact Gina (phone number available
from Parish Office) for advice and assistance with the process,
and obtaining the applications. On Sunday 11th April, between
10:00am and 12:00pm Noon, there will be a drop in at the
Presbytery 143 Central Hill, for people to come with their
applications, and for advice and support.
Many thanks for your continued support and time.
Children's Liturgy
This is just a note to remind everyone about the
Children's Liturgy.
The Children's Liturgy Group is set up to enable children from 3
years old up to the age of 7 / 8 years (who have not made their
First Holy Communion) to access the Liturgy of the Word in a
child friendly way.
We have a very short time period to try to ensure the children
not only leave us having gained some understanding of the
Gospel, but to have also enjoyed the session. To help us with
this we would ask that:
1. When Canon Michael calls for the children to come forward
we would appreciate it if you could encourage your children to
come out promptly.
2. Unless your child is very young, and still needs you with
them, please send them in on their own as our space is limited,
and having parents in the room can sometimes be a distraction,
for not only the children, but for the Group trying to take the
session. However, if you are coming into the Children's Liturgy
Room perhaps you would like to join the team; we are a very
small group and really would appreciate more parents signing up.
If you would like more information about joining the Group, and
what is involved, please speak to any member of the team. We
thank you in advance for your assistance in this matter.
The Children's Liturgy Group
Parent's with children in years 4, 5 & 6 of Junior School
The admissions policy of Catholic Secondary Schools will
only require a Priest to base his reference on Sunday Mass
attendance, with no other information required. Therefore to
ensure that this information is accurate and verifiable, parents
are asked to fill out a slip on certain Sunday's of the year and
return these to Canon Michael personally after Mass. The
information will be stored and will be evidence of Mass
attendance, if required by the schools. This information will be
required from all year groups, so as to give a pattern of
attendance. Slips will not be issued during school holidays.
Parents are reminded that attendance at Sunday Mass is part of
the responsibility they undertook for their children at Baptism,
and is an expression of living out our Catholic faith in the
Eucharist. Parents who are not able to attend Mass for reasons
of health or other circumstances should inform Canon Michael.
Booking Masses
A reminder about booking a Mass at Virgo Fidelis Church.
Please use the brown envelope and put the offering inside. At
least 2 months notice should be given as Masses get booked in
advance. We will try to get the date asked for but sometimes
this is not always possible. Bookings for Masses should not be
given over the phone, please use the envelopes provided.
Getting married in 2012?
If you are planning on getting married here or abroad, it
is the policy of the Diocese that you give at least 6 months
notice of your marriage, so that sufficient preparations can be
made. This also includes couples who are intending to get
married abroad. Please contact the Parish Office to make an
appointment to see Canon Michael.
Click here to go to the Virgo Fidelis Church Photo's Link

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Latest newsletter
Our newsletter is published every Sunday and can be collected at the
rear of the church during mass times.
Download the Church Newsletter
The newsletter is in PDF format. If you are unable to view it you can
download Adobe Reader from the link below

Offertory Collections:
The offertory collection supports the work of our Parish. Thank you for
your generosity.

The Church of the Faithful Virgin (Virgo Fidelis)supports Traidcraft.

Traidcraft Website Link
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